The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has published the results of its Recruitment Survey which concludes that there is a very real recruitment crisis in the veterinary profession which is set to worsen.

238 veterinary surgeons responded to the survey which found that 52.3% of practices reported that they do not have all the veterinary surgeons they need, with the average shortfall being 21.6% or approximately 1/5th of the workforce.

28% reported that this lack of vets meant that they are unable to cover their OOH without unacceptable levels of overtime. 

88% of practices had tried to recruit in the past 12 months, 31% of which had failed to find a candidate at the time of the survey.

SPVS carried out a similar survey in 2015 and a comparison between the two showed a worsening situation with only 22% of practices finding a new recruit within three months compared to over 30% two years ago. 90% of respondents also felt the recruitment situation had worsened since four years ago.

An unwillingness to do OOH and dissatisfaction with working hours was cited as the most common reason for candidates not accepting a position, mirroring the results of a survey carried out by VetSurgeon Jobs in 2016. This, combined with most respondents saying that personally they planned to reduce their working hours suggests that the crisis can only deepen and that to succeed in recruitment, employers will have to consider more flexible working.

Brian Faulkner, SPVS President said: "This survey provides valuable evidence to support the profession as they work with government and the colleges to try and counter this crisis in recruitment which threatens to get worse with Brexit. If not tackled it will become increasingly difficult for vets to provide a satisfactory 24 hour health service for the UK’s pets, horses and farm animals."

VetSurgeon.org Editor, Arlo Guthrie said: "This is precisely why recruitment adverts on VetSurgeon.org Jobs run for two months rather than the one month typically offered on other websites. In these difficult times, it is also important to try and use every trick in the book to spread the word about your job, and present it in a way that really stands out. On that score, we're working on some new features designed to help good employers stand out from the crowd. Watch this space."

The full survey is available on the SPVS website at: www.spvs.org.uk 

Colourful CPD, the leading provider of non-clinical skills training to the veterinary profession set up by Brian Faulkner FRCVS, has been acquired by Agilio Software, the UK’s leading provider of frontline healthcare operations software.

Brian (pictured right), said: “I am absolutely delighted that Colourful CPD has joined Agilio and I see this as a win-win-win for Colourful CPD, Agilio and the veterinary profession.

"Colourful CPD’s courses complement Agilio’s vast array of existing statutory and mandatory courses which they already distribute within the UK as well as all around the world, thus enabling Colourful CPD to make the move up to the next level, both here and abroad.

I believe veterinary practices, as well as all the roles working within them, will benefit from being able to access a range of new courses and management services from Agilio.”  

To mark its expansion into the veterinary sector, Agilio will be launching iTeam, its HR and rota software, together with iLearn, an online training and CPD accredited platform at the London Vet Show  in November.

https://www.colourfulcpd.com
https://agiliosoftware.com 

There has been a notable change to the RCVS council elections this year: candidates are now required to answer a number of insightful questions so that voters can better understand what they would bring to the party if elected. 

In previous years, candidates were only asked to provide manifestos, which often contained information that wasn't especially relevant to whether or not they should be elected to Council. 

Now, they are asked to share their reasons for wanting to be elected, what they can bring to Council and what experience they have. 

That should make it much easier for voters to pick the right candidates, which is no bad thing because there are 20 vets standing this year, a record since electronic records began in 1997 and 1 more than the previous best in 2014.

This year’s candidates are:

Louise Allum MRCVS
Sam Bescoby MRCVS
Andrew Clemence MRCVS
Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS
Reginald Godwin MRCVS
Paddy Gordon MRCVS
Danielle Greenberg MRCVS
Gerard Henry MRCVS
Richard Hillman MRCVS
Benjamin Kennedy MRCVS
Darren Partridge MRCVS
Martin Peaty MRCVS
Alison Price MRCVS
Peter Robinson MRCVS
Jennifer Simmons MRCVS
Sadie Spencer MRCVS
Mary Thomas MRCVS
William Wilkinson MRCVS
Lara Wilson MRCVS

and the inevitable Tom Lonsdale MRCVS.

The full biographies and election statements for each candidate are available to read at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote25.

The four candidates who get the most votes will take up their four-year terms on RCVS Council at the College’s Annual General Meeting on Friday 4 July 2025.

Simon Wiklund, Assistant Registrar and Returning Officer for both elections, said: “We are glad to see such a large number of veterinary professionals putting themselves forward as candidates for this year’s elections.

"It is worth noting that any future governance changes, including RCVS and VN Councils becoming all-appointed bodies, are contingent on new legislation and, until that happens, we will continue to hold our annual elections.

“You may have also noticed some differences with this year’s elections, particularly in terms of the candidate statements.

"This is thanks to a change to our election scheme, which provides greater flexibility about how we run our elections, and the information that we can ask the candidates to submit.

“This means that, rather than asking candidates for a broad manifesto statement, we’ve asked them to answer key questions that are relevant to the role of a Council member, including what skills and experiences they can bring to the table.”

Ahead of the elections, RCVS will be running its ‘Quiz the candidates’ initiative in which veterinary surgeons can submit questions to the candidates standing in their respective elections, in order to better understand them and their views.

However, due to the additional information now included in each of their statements, this year candidates will only answer one question of their choice each.

Before submitting questions to the candidates, please note the RCVS will only accept one question per person. Offensive, defamatory and inaccurate questions will be rejected by the Returning Officer and not be passed on to candidates.

Veterinary surgeons can submit a question to the RCVS Council candidates by emailing vetvote25@rcvs.org.uk.  

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has issued a statement following media reports and concerns raised on social media about serious adverse events given in dogs given a vaccine containing four strains of Leptospira bacteria:

"We would like to reassure vets, and through them dog owners, that we are constantly reviewing adverse event report data to ensure that the benefits of each UK licenced veterinary medicine product outweighs the risk posed by their potential side-effects.

There are a number of vaccines authorised in the UK containing either two (L2) or four (L4) strains of Leptospira. Based on the most recent periodic safety update report data received for each product, the incidence of adverse animal reactions for all L2 vaccine products combined is 0.015%; for L4 vaccine products this figure is 0.069%.

In other words, the VMD has received fewer than 2 adverse reactions for L2, and fewer than 7 for L4, for every 10,000 doses sold. This includes every suspected adverse event reported, even cases that were considered unclassifiable or were later found to be unrelated to the vaccine.

The overall incidence of suspected adverse reactions for both L2 and L4 vaccine products is therefore considered to be rare."

Pets'n'Vets, a Glasgow-based partnership, has revealed plans to open what it describes as the city's first veterinary 'super practice'.

Located at a 7500 sq ft customised facility in the Auldhouse Retail Park in Pollokshaws, The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will provide comprehensive pet care seven days a week, caring for animals around the clock and providing late night consultations when required. Pets'n'Vets says it believes it will deliver a step change to the standard of veterinary care available in the city.

Pets'n'Vets partner Oliver Jackson said: "Having provided excellent veterinary care to the Southside's pets for over 40 years we feel that this will create a cutting-edge facility in which to do so for the next 40 years.

"Our plans for this ambitious new facility have been modelled on the American concept of a vet 'super-practice', designed to deliver the whole suite of pet care services, from nail clipping to vaccinations to some of the most complex surgical veterinary procedures - and will provide these services locally, at sensible cost and to the highest clinical standards with one of the best qualified, first opinion veterinary surgeons in the West of Scotland and one of the best medical experts too.

"This is a really exciting initiative that will bring a real first to Glasgow. It will enable us to care for animals 24 hours a day as there will be nursing staff living on-site so that animals can receive continuous treatment through the night. The location of the facility means that pet owners and, more importantly, sick animals, will not have to travel too far and, given the size and scope of the facility, we expect to be able to reduce significantly the waiting list before veterinary procedures can be scheduled.

"The whole idea behind The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital is that we will be in a position to provide continuous lifelong veterinary care regardless of the problems that life brings - our vets and nurses often first meet our friends and their pets as a puppies, kittens and kits and we get to know pet and owner exceptionally well over the years - in the event that that pet requires a complex surgical procedure or in-patient medical care, we want to be able to offer that too, rather than the pet and owner being referred to an unfamiliar veterinary hospital.

"A particularly exciting aspect of the development is that some of the services will be led by our qualified veterinary nurses in conjunction with the surgeons. To facilitate this, the practice will in addition to the vet consulting rooms, house two specialist nurse consulting rooms."

The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will feature a cat examination room which, unusually, will not feature a consult table. Instead, this new facility will feature steps and an artificial tree that will enable the nurse or vet to better assess its movements.

Partner Oliver Jackson said: "This is an ultra-modern arrangement which is aimed at allowing us to examine cats in a more natural way - we hope that this will assist us to diagnose many more cases of feline arthritis, a disease that a recent study accepted was often missed by the traditional, consulting table means of examining cats."

Similarly, the dog room will not feature a consult table but will have facilities for physiotherapy or play - and there will be a special garden enclosure for exercising any dogs requiring to stay at the facility for any length of time.

The 'super practice' will feature separate cat and dog waiting and consultation rooms as well as separate in-patient wards to reduce stress. In the clinical wing, the facility boasts two sterile theatres, specified to the highest clinical standards, with a separate scrub area, a designated dental theatre, large patient preparation area as well as state-of the art diagnostic suites.

Pets'n'Vets says the hospital design has been carefully considered to encourage the best possible clinical care. For example vets' stations overlook the intensive care unit and the preparation area remains open plan, taking advantage of natural light provided by a large overhead atrium, whilst specialist air extraction systems ensures sterility by separating the area into clinical zones.

In addition to the dog and cat accommodation the hospital will also have an isolation ward which will be separate for any animals with potentially contagious diseases and a ward dedicated to less usual pets with facilities for everything from rabbits and guinea pigs to albino hedgehogs as well as vivaria for looking after reptiles.

The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will also feature a private area for pet owners needing to spend a little more time, perhaps on those sad occasions when a pet has to be put to sleep, as well as a dedicated and more relaxed room where owners will be able to discuss the health of their pet with the vet.

Oliver said: "We want The Roundhouse to be a place for learning and meeting, so there will be a coffee station for owners and a homely, relaxed and welcoming feeling. We're also planning to host school trips and the facility will feature a little veterinary practice where kids can play, with stethoscopes and little white coats for them to wear.

"As a practice, Pets'n'Vets has always been very involved in training and this new facility will enable us to do that on an unprecedented scale. Our ambition is that The Roundhouse will become a drop-in centre for people to come with their animals to learn and to play as well as to receive medical treatment."

The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will create six additional full-time jobs when it opens this summer. Pets'n'Vets says that many of the treatments currently delivered by its nearby surgery on Pollokshaws Road will transfer to the new facility, enabling it to create Glasgow's first dedicated vaccine clinic at the old surgery.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has restored a veterinary surgeon who had previously been convicted of fraud to the Register, after finding him fit to resume practising.

Matthew Morgan had pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud in July 2013 having fraudulently claimed over £200,000 in pet insurance claims between November 2009 and December 2012. In August 2013 he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, for which he served 12 months and was then released on licence.

Following his conviction and sentence, his case was brought to the RCVS Disciplinary Committee in February 2014 where it was decided to strike him off the Register. When his licence period expired on 18 August 2015, Mr Morgan applied for restoration to the Register.

During the course of the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee heard evidence from Mr Morgan, who accepted the findings of the Committee, describing the evidence as ‘fair’ and acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.

The Committee felt that Mr Morgan’s criminal conduct was very grave, as reflected in his custodial sentence and the fact that, as an Australian citizen, he had been issued with a deportation notice by the Home Office. It also felt that his crime had struck at the heart of public confidence in a profession for which honesty and integrity is expected.

However, the Committee considered that Mr Morgan, if restored, would pose few risks in respect of protection of the public, having no concerns about his competence as a veterinary surgeon, and accepted that there was little future risk to animal welfare if he were to be restored.

The Committee also considered that, since his release from prison, Mr Morgan has taken extensive steps to rehabilitate himself, has undertaken continuing professional development and has been working as a veterinary care assistant at two veterinary practices to keep up-to-date with current practice.

Furthermore, the Committee was satisfied that there was public support for Mr Morgan continuing as a veterinary surgeon given the references and testimonials submitted on his behalf.

In coming to its conclusion the Disciplinary Committee reiterated the seriousness of Mr Morgan’s criminal offending, saying that it had caused it “the greatest concern”. However, it also felt that issues of rehabilitation needed to be considered.

Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee cannot emphasise enough the fact that veterinary surgeons who commit acts of fraud in the exercise of their practice can expect severe consequences, both in the criminal courts and within their own College and there can be no doubt that the decision to remove the applicant from the Register was a proper reflection of the seriousness of his offending.

“Given all of the matters referred to above, however, the Committee considers that the applicant has demonstrated sufficiently that he has learned the lessons required and is now fit to be restored to the Register.”

The British Veterinary Association is urging veterinary teams to take extra precautions when handling suspected cases of Brucella canis in all imported dogs and puppies after the first confirmed dog-to-human case of Brucella canis in the UK.

The BVA is also calling on Government to tighten pet import rules.

The advice follows news about a positive Brucella canis test in a rescue dog imported from Belarus in March this year.

The woman fostering the dog was hospitalised after coming into close contact with it, in the UK’s first confirmed dog-to-human transmission.

The foster animal and four pet dogs who were exposed to the disease, three of whom also tested positive, all had to be euthanised.

Data released by the Government shows a steep rise in confirmed Brucella canis cases since the start of 2020, rising from just three before that year to 107 till July this year.

The dogs were all either imported, had returned from holiday overseas, or been bred with an imported dog.

BVA is asking veterinary teams to:

• Use appropriate PPE when handling suspected cases in all imported dogs.
• Submit samples to laboratories for testing.
• Flag risks of Brucella canis and other non-endemic diseases to clients considering importing a dog from or travelling with a dog to another country where the disease is endemic
• Encourage compliance with import best practice in conversations with clients and rescue charities who are planning to bring in a dog from abroad.

British Veterinary Association President Justine Shotton said: “This recent case of Brucella canis in a foster dog is extremely tragic and highlights why vets have long raised concerns over the real and serious risks of importing ‘Trojan’ rescue dogs with unknown health histories into the UK.

“We know there is an added public health risk too, including for veterinary teams who treat and handle these animals, from contact with an infected dog’s contaminated body tissues and fluids.

"BVA continues to call on the Government to take urgent action to introduce stricter pet import measures, including mandatory pre-import testing, so we can minimise the spread of Brucella canis and other emerging diseases.

"We are also calling for the strengthening of enforcement provisions and checks on dogs brought into the country through the commercial route."

The 2021 B. canis risk view and statement by Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency) contains vital information and recommendations for veterinary professionals: here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960013/20210210_Brucella_canis_statement.pdf 

BVA’s recommendations on tightening pet travel legislation: https://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/News,_campaigns_and_policies/Policies/Companion_animals/BVA%20Position%20on%20Pet%20Travel%20Full.pdf 

A survey commissioned by the RCVS has found that a significant number of pet owners think veterinary surgeons offer poor or very poor value for money, suggesting more work needs to be done to communicate the value of veterinary services.

The survey was conducted by Mo Gannon & Associates, which asked 2,000 UK adults about their satisfaction with the service they and their animals received from veterinary surgeons, levels of trust in the profession, and whether the service provided by vets represents value for money.

32% of the respondents felt that veterinary surgeons represented excellent (8%) or good (24%) value for money. 38% thought that veterinary fees are fair. However, 29% thought that veterinary surgeons and their services provided poor (21%) or very poor (8%) value for money. The results were very similar to the last time the survey was conducted, in 2015.

Nevertheless, veterinary surgeons continue to enjoy very high levels of trust amongst the public. 94% said they either completely trust (34%) or generally trust (60%) vets. This put veterinary surgeons in third place amongst the most trusted professions, below opticians and pharmacists but above GPs and and dentists. 

Satisfaction with the profession was also high. 80% said they were either very satisfied (39%) or satisfied (41%), putting vets in fourth place below opticians, pharmacists and dentists, but above general practitioners and accountants.

RCVS President Dr Niall Connell, pictured right (would you trust this man?) said: "These results clearly demonstrate that there is a great deal of good will towards the veterinary profession and the work they do in treating the nation’s animals and serving their communities. The basis of all good relationships is trust, and it is fantastic to see that our clients continue overwhelmingly to trust our knowledge and expertise and remain very happy with the service we provide them.

"The picture on value for money is clearly a bit more mixed, although clearly 70% of the respondents recognise that we at least charge fair fees in terms of our time and expertise. There is, of course, always more work that we can do in order to help the public understand veterinary costs and fees and promote the value of veterinary care, as demonstrated by last year’s joint Pets Need Vets social media campaign with BVA, in which we highlighted the benefits to pet owners of being registered with a vet."

Ophthalmologists Gary Lewin and Chris Dixon from Veterinary Vision, the ophthalmology referral clinic with centres in Penrith, Sunderland and Charnock, is reporting success with a novel cataract technique they've developed.

The new technique enables the surgeon to suspend a modified acrylic lens from a damaged capsule, which has historically not been possible.

Gary and Chris have published a paper analysing the results of the surgery in the Journal of Small Animal Practice: "Post-operative outcomes in canine eyes receiving a rhexis-fixated prosthetic intra-ocular lens: 30 cases (2014-2020)¹"

Surgery was carried out in a total of 30 eyes using a modified acrylic IOL, where the lens capsule could not accommodate a conventional prosthetic endo-capsular IOL. 

Over a follow-up period from three to 76 months, 26 of the 30 eyes remained visual.

Chris said: “It’s a novel technique for implanting a prosthetic lens into the eyes of patients who otherwise may have not been suitable for surgery, either saving or restoring their sight.

“Gary developed a method of modifying the lens to fit in the eye in dogs where the lens capsule is damaged.

For more information, visit www.veterinaryvision.co.uk.

Reference

1. Lewin, G.A. and Dixon, C.J. (2022), Post-operative outcomes in canine eyes receiving a rhexis-fixated prosthetic intra-ocular lens: 30 cases (2014-2020). J Small Anim Pract, 63: 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13443 

Work aimed at developing a new vaccine to protect against abortigenic and neurological equine herpes virus (EHV) has begun at the Animal Health Trust (AHT).

Dr Neil Bryant from the AHT, who is leading the research, said: "EHV is a major welfare concern for horses and foals and causes emotional, as well as financial strains, on horse owners and breeders around the world. It can strike any horse at any time so a vaccine will be of global welfare benefit to all horses, including the thoroughbred and sports horse breeding industries, and would help control this serious and sometimes fatal disease."

As a viral infection, EHV can cause respiratory disease, abortion or fatal illness in new born foals and neurological disease in adult horses, with signs ranging from slight wobbliness through to complete paralysis. The disease can strike any horse at any time because the virus, like other herpesviruses (such as the cold sore virus in humans), becomes dormant within most horses early in their life. It then re-emerges when the animal is later stressed such as when transported or mixed with new horses. A seemingly healthy pregnant mare may suddenly, and without warning, abort her unborn foal or may show signs of respiratory disease including mild fever, coughing and discharge from the nose. A horse which appears fit and well may suddenly show abnormalities when walking and within hours may be unable to stand. 

Despite the potential severity and impact of outbreaks, there is still no vaccine that is licensed to protect against the neurological form of the disease and abortions still occur in highly vaccinated horse populations. The AHT says protection afforded by existing vaccines currently in use is sub-optimal, something that was highlighted by the 2016 abortion storm in Hertfordshire in fully vaccinated animals.

Neil added: "We have become aware of a pressing need for progress towards a new and improved EHV-1 vaccine. Just last month, the AHT was again called upon to work with the racing industry and affected parties in dealing with confirmed cases of EHV-1 abortion in premises in Yorkshire and Suffolk."

To that end, the charity has now established the Equine Industries EHV Vaccine Steering Group. Chaired by Professor Joe Brownlie of the RVC, the steering group includes world-renowned experts on both human and equine herpes viruses from a number of research establishments, who have concluded that the most appropriate way forward is for the AHT to design a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine. 

After securing funding from a large number of organisations, including the Alborada Trust, EBM Charitable Trust, Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, Paul Mellon Estate, Thompson Family Charitable Trust, Coolmore Ireland, Newsells Park Stud, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and Juddmonte Farms, the AHT has begun its five-year research programme.

Neil added: "We’re at the beginning of a very exciting and potentially ground-breaking vaccine development. Through our research, we will construct different viruses with attenuating mutations and assess their suitability as MLVs. We hope our findings will enable further development by vaccine manufacturers in creating an effective vaccine to protect against the serious clinical signs induced by EHV-1."

CVS reports that after running a clinical improvement project to improve the diagnosis of periodontal disease in cat and dogs, its participating first opinion practices have tripled the number of patients receiving dental x-rays.

The company points to research which showed that 42% of cats and 28% of dogs have lesions which are only detectable on x-ray¹.

Failing to identify teeth with root lesions can have a significant impact on patient welfare, causing ongoing pain and eventual tooth loss.

The first priority for the CVS clinical improvement project was to review how effective its first opinion small animal practices were at using radiography in dental examinations.

In July 2021, only 16.2% of dental cases had radiography performed and clinicians were mostly using visual examination to guide decision making.

The project then identified the barriers to using dental radiography as: a lack of dental radiography equipment in a practice, a lack of clinician confidence in taking and interpreting the radiographs and a belief that pet owners would not want to pay for it.

To address the first issue, CVS installed new dental radiography machines at over 104 sites, at a cost of £615,000 over the course of the year. 

The company then upskilled its vets and nurses in dental radiography - looking specifically at getting good quality radiographs and interpretation.

Finally, the company conducted an audit of each participating practice’s dental radiology data, updating it each month and sharing the results with the practices..

One year on, CVS says the data shows that 43% of dental cases in project practices are now using dental radiography as part of their consultation.

In the best cases, some practices have been using radiography in 100% of cases.

Hub Clinical Lead Deborah Komianos said: “When you open a patient’s mouth and look inside, seemingly normal teeth are oftentimes not normal.

"So vets and nurses can risk missing periodontal disease.

“Dental radiology has historically been underutilised but we believe it adds valuable information to dental consultations and is an important decision-making tool.

“We’re thrilled with the early results in our practices.

"It shows there’s been a real change of mind-set and behaviour towards using X-rays in dentistry – as well as increased confidence in execution."

Reference

1. ‘Diagnostic value of full mouth radiography in cats’, 1998, Verstraete, Kass and Terpak.

Liz Law-Bartle MRCVS has written a new guide for veterinary surgeons: How to survive an RCVS hearing. 

In writing the guide, Liz has drawn upon her own experience of the disciplinary process to offer practical advice to others who find themselves in the same situation. 

Liz found herself on the receiving end of a complaint by a pet owner after an elderly dog she had operated on died that night at her practice. It took two years for the complaint to progress to a DC hearing. They were two years which she described as absolute hell. Not just because of the threat of losing her livelihood, but also because of the vilification on social media. 

Her booklet explains the whole process, from the first notice from the College to moving on after the hearing, with practical advice as to how you can make the experience, well, if not a positive one, at least not quite as hellish as it might otherwise be. 

You can download the booklet from Liz’s website, here: https://howtosurviveanrcvshearing.wordpress.com/